SPS recommendations

[Giovanni]

I have a well established reef tank. I keep mostly soft and LPS. I am wanting to add some SPS and would like your recommendation for a beginners SPS. I have strong flow (about 450gph alternating every 20sec in a 30cube) and 150watt MH 20K light. I have a nice spot up top directly under the light in the highest flow area ready. I dose B-Ionic with a dosing pump continuously. The LPS show good growth as does everything in the tank. What recommendations with regard to type of SPS and setup changes would the experts here make?

[duec22]

Start with montipora. You can try either digi or caps. Both are pretty easy to keep.

[MiddletonMark]

I too would start with Montipora, probably a frag. Digitata, cap ... I would skip the encrusting ones, which I've found a little more touchy [depending] than the nearly always very hardy plating/branching forms.

Pocillapora I've also found to be a good hardy starter `sps'.

Perhaps a reefer-grown Acropora frag too ... maybe a staghorn, millepora, or another hardy variety.

[Giovanni]

Thanks for the pointers. I see a lot of SPS keeper discussing 10K bulbs. Will I need to ditch the 20K bulb at some point?

[Giovanni]

Also, I am in west KY and my LFS does not carry SPS. Can someone recommend a good place to aquire SPS that is close, or even by shipping?

[MiddletonMark]

Perhaps. Many run with 10k for the higher output, but people often focus on overlighting corals vs. water quality [which I would focus more on].

But on a smaller tank, with good water quality - you should probably do ok.

[Giovanni]

My LFS says he can get me some Acropora and that is it. He says it is listed as small and fancy not a frag for $45 bucks. Is this high and is acro harder to keep?

[duec22]

For a small acro colony $45 is a pretty fair price, as long as it's not brown. Take a look at the club forums and see if you have a club that is close to you. I joined our local reef club just over a year ago, and since that time I've aquired the majority of my coral though other members. The good part about this is, you get a coral that has already proven it self in captive conditions, and typically you get a great price on them.